Broken Bones From Truck Accidents

Large commercial truck collisions are incredibly violent, with sudden changes in direction, rapid deceleration, and blunt force trauma. The impact exerts tremendous pressure on a body's skeletal structure, which is why serious injuries after such a crash often include broken bones.

Causes of Broken Bones

The most common causes include:

Crush injuries. When a vehicle is crushed by a truck, the resulting pressure can crush bone tissue.

Whiplash. When a crash victim’s body is jerked forward and then backward, the bones comprising the back and spine are under severe stress. This can result in broken vertebrae, and possibly a severed spine that leaves the victim paralyzed.

Striking objects inside the vehicle. In a truck collision, a car passenger who isn’t wearing his seat belt may strike the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield with sufficient force to cause broken bones.

Types of Broken Bone Injuries

Common bone injuries resulting from truck collisions include damage to the collarbone, ribs, arms, legs, neck, hands, and feet.

Bones break in a number of different ways, including:

Incomplete fractures. The bone is cracked, but not completely broken.

Simple fractures. This is when a bone breaks without damaging the surrounding tissue.

Complete fractures. A bone snaps into two or more pieces.

Compound fractures. This is when a bone protrudes through the skin.

Complications From These Injuries

Broken bones may lead to serious, even life-threatening, complications. A broken rib may puncture a lung, making breathing difficult. Similarly, skull fractures can cause brain damage. All types of broken bones require medical treatment, and recovery may limit mobility for weeks or months.

Broken bones can:

Cause spinal cord damage.

Fail to heal correctly, necessitating additional medical treatment.

Require surgery, or the implantation of metal plates.

Interfere with a child’s growth and development.

Prevent an injury victim from returning to work.

Receiving Compensation

When you’ve been injured in a truck collision, you deserve compensation. To learn more about what the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., can do for you, visit us on Facebook.